Turnbuckle lock



s. BILLET-r 2,321,001

TURNBUCKLE LOCK Filed Aug. 10, 1942 June 8, 1943.

1 -w V////////////////////////A v Patented .lune 8, 1943 TURNBUCKLE LOCK Stanley Billett, Bakersfield, Calif.

Application August 10, 1942, Serial No. 454,252

Granted under the act of March 3, 1833, as amended April 30, 1928; 370 0. G. 757) 7 Claims.

The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for Government for governmental purposes, without the payment to me of any royalty thereon.

This invention relates to turnbuckles, and more particularly to a locking device therefor to prevent unintended variation from a selected turnbuckle adjustment.

The object of the invention is to provide an improved form of turnbuckle lock, simple in construction, easily manufactured, and readily operable to permit desired turnbuckle adjustment and to lock the turnbuckle parts against shifting from selected adjusted position. v

The invention includes the lock plate an fastener pin hereinafter described, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing showing a preferred embodiment and one modification thereof.

In the drawing,

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a turnbuckle provided with a lock embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view therethrough, taken online 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view, on a slightly enlarged scale, indicating the preferred outer limit of adjustment permitted by the lock;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the lock plate of Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 6 is a side elevation, partly in section, of a slightly modiiied form of turnbuckle lock embodying the invention:

Fig. 'l is a vertical transverse section taken on line 1-1 of Fig. 6: and

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the lock plate of Fig. 6.

Referring in detail to the drawing, the turnbuckle illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 is one of conventional type and includes the right-and-lefthand screw threaded coupling member or sleeve ll and the cooperating end members or rods I3 and lfthreaded adjustably therein. As shown in Fig. 2, the rods I3 and I5 are forked at their outer ends and are provided across their forks, respectively, with the bolts l1 and I9, the construction being adapted, for example, to permit the attachment of a cable 20 to each rod, as indicated in dotted lines.

Each bolt is secured in assembled position by a nut 2l grooved across its outer face to receive a nut-locking cotter pin 23 passing through the bolt, this preventing -relative rotation between bolt and nut.

y Rotation of the threaded sleeve I l in one direction or the other will force apart or draw tol gether the rods I3 and I5. It is the purpose of this invention to permit these movements when they are intended and prevent them when not intended.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1, 2 and 5, as here shown, a flat lock plate or metal strap 25 is provided, whose length is substantially the length of the turnbuckle at its maximum extension and whose width is sufficient to provide a hole 21 at one end to receive the shank of bolt I3 and a slot 29 at the other end wide enough to receive, slidably, the washer 3l on the shank of bolt I1 next the head thereof. Except for the Washer 3| both bolt assemblies are the same, and the bolt head diameter is greater than the diameter of the hole 21 and than the width of slot 29.

It is, therefore, apparent that the bolts hold the lock plate permanently attached to the turnbuckle assembly. As viewed in the drawings, the right hand end of the lock plate is fixed with respect to right hand bolt I9. The left hand bolt l1 slides in slot 29 when the turnbuckle is adjusted, and the outermost limit of slot 29 is so located as to stop further separating movement of the turnbuckle threaded rods t3 and l5 while there is still enough thread grip between the sleeve and rods to insure the desired strength of the assembly.'

As here shown, in Fig. 4. this limit is selected in the present instance to insure a three-thread grip of the sleeve ll on each rod, as indicated by the arrow.

The structure above described prevents relative rotative motion of the two rods, and insures that their adjustment toward and away from each other will be confined to rectilinear movement.

Ihe invention also provides means associated with the lock plate which, in cooperation therewith, prevents unintended change in the selected adjusted position of the two rods. shown, a narrow slot 33 is provided in the lock plate intermediate the hole 21 and slot 29.` 'Ihe sleeve ll is provided at its central portion with a passage 35 extending diametrically therethrough. A cotter pin 31 extends through this opening, through slot 33 in the lock plate, and through a washer 39 on the under side of the lock plate, and has its projecting ends bent over in known manner to maintain it in position. In this assembled position of the turnbuckle sleeve, cotter pin and lock plate, the turnbuckle sleeve is prevented from rotating with respect to either of As herein plate and the coupling member.

the threaded rods I3 and Il; removal oi' the cotter pin permits ready turnbuckle adjustment, after which return o! the cotter pin to assembled position xes the turnbuckle sleeve with respectto the lock plate` and thereby prevents any turnbuckle adjustment until the cotter pin is again removed. To4 provide for adiustment, the slot Il is made long enough-to accommodate the' cotter pin within the selectable maximum turnbuckle adjustment,'tor which purpose the slot 33 is made at least half as long as the slot 29.

Figs. 6, '7 and 8 illustrate a modified form of the invention. As here shown, the lock plate structure is the same as that already described except that the guide slot 2! has been eliminated. and inits place the lock plate is provided with a bent up end Il having a hexagonal opening I3 aligned longitudinally with the center line of the lock plate. The left hand threaded rod I3 is provided with a hexagonal portion I4 which its slidably and non-rotatably in the opening 43.

As a limit stop, to prevent too great a separation of the rods, the hexagonal portion I4 of rod i3' may be provided with the cotter IB, positioned to function as a stop against the end 4i of thev lock plate, to limit rod separation and insure at least a three threadl grip in the position of and slidably attached to the other end member and having a limit stop portion cooperating with the last named end member for limiting separating movement of the end members.O

3. A turnbuckle assembly comprising" a right and left hand threaded coupling member, a pair of oppositeLv threaded end members cooperating therewith, a lock plate fixed to one end member and slidably attached to the other vend member and having a limit stop portion cooperating with the last named end member for limiting separating movement oi the end members. and a lock v pin passing through both the lock plate and the coupling member.

and slidably attached to the other end member, A

\=\said lock plate having a limit stop portion cooperating with the last named end member for limiting separating movement o! .the end members and a lock pin passing through both the 'lock plate and the coupling member, said lock,

plate having a slot extending in the direction Vof its length for reception o! the lock pin in diiferent positions.

5. A turnbuckle assembly comprising a right and left hand threaded coupling member, apair of oppositely threaded end members cooperating therewith, each end member having a forked portion provided with a cable attaching bolt, a lock plate iixed to the bolt of one end member and having a, slot slidably receiving the bolt of the other end member and having a slot end limiting the separating movement of the end members, and a lock pin passing thrugh both the lock plate and the coupling member, said lock plate having a lock-pin slot extending in the direction of its length for reception of the lock pin in dllerent positions.

p 6.-A turnbuckle assembly comprising a right and left hand threaded coupling member, a pair of f oppositely threadedend members cooperating therewith, a lock plate xed to one end member and having an opening slidably receiving a portion of the other end member. saidopening and said other end member portion eing of polygonal contour for preventing rotation of said other end member with respect to the .lock plate.

7. A turnbuckle assembly comprising a right and left hand theraded coupling member, a pair lof oppositely threadedend members cooperating therewith, a lock plate ilxed to one end member and having a, portion slidably receiving the other in the direction of its length for reception of the lock pin in dierent positions.

s'rANmY Brumm 

